Engineered antiglare surface to reduce display sparkle

ABSTRACT

A transparent substrate having an antiglare surface with reduced display sparkle. The transparent substrate has a roughened antiglare surface and a diffraction element below the antiglare surface. The diffraction element reduces sparkle by filling gaps between sub-pixels in a pixelated display with orders of diffraction. A display system comprising the transparent substrate and a pixelated display is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 ofU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/490,706 filed on May 27, 2011,the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to transparent substrates and devices havingantiglare properties. More particularly, the disclosure relates totransparent substrates and devices having structures that reduce sparklein an image generated by a pixelated display.

Pixelated displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organiclight emitting diodes (OLEDs) are widely used in a variety ofinformation, communication, and entertainment devices. Such displaysoften include an antiglare treatment, such as a film, coating, orsurface to enhance viewability of the display by reducing the specularreflection of ambient light.

Display “sparkle” or “dazzle” is a generally undesirable side effectthat can occur when introducing antiglare or light scattering surfacesinto a pixelated display system. Sparkle is associated with a very finegrainy appearance of the display, and the pattern of grains may appearto shift with changing viewing angle of the display. Display sparkle maybe manifested as bright, dark, and/or colored spots at approximately thepixel-level size scale.

SUMMARY

A transparent substrate having an antiglare surface with reduced sparkleis provided. The transparent substrate has a roughened antiglare surfaceand a diffraction element on the opposite surface of or within thesubstrate. The diffraction element is an optical element that modifieslight according to the laws of diffraction and may comprise a periodicgrating, a quasiperiodic grating, an aperiodic grating, or a randomphase pattern that reduces sparkle by filling gaps between sub-pixels ina pixelated display. A display system comprising the transparentsubstrate and a pixelated display is also provided. The transparentsubstrate and display system may be used in electronic information,communication, and entertainment devices.

Accordingly, one aspect of the disclosure is to provide a transparentsubstrate comprising an antiglare surface and a diffraction elementdisposed below the antiglare surface, wherein the transparent substrate,when disposed in front of a pixelated display, at least partiallyreduces inter-pixel gaps in the pixelated display.

A second aspect of the disclosure is to provide a display system. Thedisplay system comprises: a pixelated display comprising a plurality ofpixels, each of the plurality of pixels having a pixel size; atransparent substrate disposed in front of and substantially parallel tothe pixelated display, the transparent substrate having an antiglaresurface distal from the pixelated display; and a diffraction elementdisposed between the antiglare surface and the pixelated display.

These and other aspects, advantages, and salient features will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, the accompanyingdrawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a pixel comprising rectangularred, green, and blue sub-pixels;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a display systemcomprising a transparent substrate and a pixelated display;

FIG. 3a is a schematic representation of a group of pixels, viewedthrough a transparent substrate that does not comprise a diffractionelement, in which green sub-pixels are energized and red and bluesub-pixels are not energized;

FIG. 3b is a schematic representation of a group of pixels, viewedthrough a transparent substrate comprising a diffraction element, inwhich green sub-pixels are energized and red and blue sub-pixels are notenergized;

FIG. 4 is a plot of angular energy distribution scattered by asinusoidal grating for green light;

FIG. 5 is a plot of angular energy distribution scattered by asinusoidal grating for red light; and

FIG. 6 is a plot of pixel power deviation (PPD) as a function of theperiod of a roughened antiglare surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like reference characters designate likeor corresponding parts throughout the several views shown in thefigures. It is also understood that terms such as “top,” “bottom,”“outward,” “inward,” and the like are words of convenience and are notto be construed as limiting terms. In addition, whenever a group isdescribed as either comprising or consisting of at least one of a groupof elements and combinations thereof, it is understood that the groupmay comprise or consist of any number of those elements recited, eitherindividually or in combination with each other. Unless otherwisespecified, a range of values, when recited, includes both the upper andlower limits of the range and any sub-ranges therebetween. As usedherein, the indefinite articles “a,” “an,” and the correspondingdefinite article “the” mean “at least one” or “one or more,” unlessotherwise specified. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, andcertain features and certain views of the drawings may be shownexaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity andconciseness.

Referring to the drawings in general and to FIG. 1 in particular, itwill be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments and are not intended to limit thedisclosure or appended claims thereto.

Display “sparkle” or “dazzle” is a generally undesirable side effectthat can occur when introducing antiglare or light scattering surfacesinto a pixelated display system such as, for example, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), touch screens,reflective displays, or the like. The display system may includeactive-matrix, passive-matrix, and/or static displays, such as printedimages. Such display sparkle differs in type and origin from the type of“sparkle” or “speckle” that has been observed and characterized inprojection or laser systems. Sparkle is associated with a very finegrainy appearance of the display, and the pattern of grains may appearto shift with changing viewing angle of the display. Display sparkle maybe manifested as bright, dark, and/or colored spots at approximately thepixel-level size scale.

Antiglare surfaces are often used in such pixelated display applicationsto avoid or reduce specular reflection of ambient light. These antiglaresurfaces are typically formed by providing the surface with some degreeof roughness to spread the light reflected by the surface over a certainangle. This may be accomplished, for example, by applying a film havinga roughened surface or texture, or by roughening the native surface ofthe substrate.

In pixelated displays such as LCD displays or the like, color images aregenerally created by using adjacent red (R), green (G), and blue (B)pixels. In a non-limiting example, FIG. 1 shows a schematicrepresentation of a pixel 100 comprising rectangular red (R), green (G),and blue (B) sub-pixels whose sizes are approximately one third of thesize (or pitch) of pixel 100 in the X direction and are equal to thesize of pixel 100 in the Y direction. As a consequence of this type ofgeometry, single color (i.e., red, blue, or green) images constitutesub-pixels with a gap of about ⅔ of the pixel size. This inter-pixel gapis responsible for creating some degree of sparkle in images generatedby a plurality of pixels 100. If no inter-pixel gap were present orperceived by a viewer, sparkle would not be observed, regardless of theroughness of the antiglare surface. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that the present disclosure encompasses pixel andsub-pixel geometries other than that shown in FIG. 1. Other pixelgeometries include, but are not limited to: sub-pixels of unequaldimensions (e.g. a blue sub-pixel that is twice as large as the red andgreen sub-pixels to compensate for low-brightness of a blue lightsource); non-rectangular sub-pixels; pixels with more than threesub-pixels, including sub-pixels of non-standard colors (e.g. RGB pluswhite); sub-pixels in which their may be further subdivisions withineach sub-pixel; and sub-pixels that are arranged in configurations thathave more complex symmetry than that shown in FIG. 1.

In one aspect, a transparent substrate (also referred to herein as a“substrate”) comprising an antiglare surface and a diffraction elementis provided. In some embodiments, the substrate comprises a transparentsheet of polymeric material such as, but not limited to, a polycarbonatesheet or the like. In other embodiments, the substrate comprises atransparent glass sheet. The transparent substrate may be a flat sheetor a three dimensional sheet such as, for example, a curved sheet. Inanother aspect, a display system comprising the transparent substratedescribed herein and a pixelated display is provided. A cross-sectionalschematic view of such a display system comprising a transparentsubstrate and a pixelated display is shown in FIG. 2. Display system 200comprises a transparent substrate 205 and a pixelated display 250.Transparent substrate 205 is disposed in front of pixelated display 250along optical path 230. In some embodiments, transparent substrate issubstantially parallel to pixelated display 250. Transparent substrate205 has a thickness t, an antiglare surface 210, and a diffractionelement 220 disposed below antiglare surface 210. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 2, diffraction element 220 is disposed on a second surface215 opposite antiglare surface 210. In some embodiments, diffractionelement 220 is disposed in a polymeric film or epoxy layer, which isdisposed on second surface 215. In other embodiments, diffractionelement 220 is disposed in the bulk of transparent substrate 205 andbetween antiglare surface 205 and second surface 215. Pixelated display250 may be a LCD display, an OLED display, or the like that are known inthe art, and is separated from glass substrate 205 comprises a pluralityof pixels 252. Pixelated display 250 is separated from transparentsubstrate 205 by gap 255, and plurality of pixels 252 is separated fromdiffraction element 220 by optical distance d.

Antiglare surface 210 is a roughened surface that blurs a reflectedimage to some degree. In some embodiments, antiglare surface 210comprises a coated or structured polymeric film (often a polarizingfilm) which is directly laminated to the surface of the transparentsubstrate 205. In other embodiments, antiglare surface 210 may be formedby chemically etching a surface of the transparent substrate 200, eitherdirectly or through an acid- or alkali-resistant mask. When transparentsubstrate 205 is placed in front of pixelated display 250, antiglaresurface 210 is located along optical path 230 and is distal frompixelated display 250 such that antiglare surface 210 faces the viewer.

The amplitude of sparkle is a function of many parameters. Sparklegenerally decreases when antiglare surface 210 contains mostly highspatial frequencies or when the distance separating antiglare surface210 from the plurality of pixels 252 is smaller. As such, there is aninterest of using antiglare surfaces having high spatial frequencies. Asthese spatial frequencies increase, however, the haze of the antiglaresurface also increases, resulting in poor contrast of pixelated display250. To solve this dilemma, both the antiglare surface 210 and secondsurface 215 of transparent substrate 205 may be roughened. Frontantiglare surface 210 has spatial frequencies that are sufficiently lowto avoid the creation of haze but high enough to blur reflected images.Second surface 215 has mostly higher spatial frequencies so as tominimize sparkle that may be created by front antiglare surface 210. Inaddition, second surface 215 may comprise an antireflective coating orlayer or an index-matching epoxy to avoid additional haze created byreflections on second surface 215.

In addition to haze and sparkle, display resolution should also beconsidered. As the spatial frequencies of the back face are increased toeliminate sparkle, the energy of the light emitted by a single pixel isspread over a larger area; i.e., the size of the pixel viewed throughthe transparent substrate 205 becomes larger and may decrease thesharpness of an image. To avoid visible degradation of image quality,the amplitude in which light from the pixel is spread should be smallerthan the human eye resolution (about 1 arc-minute). For a hand-helddevice where the observer is typically located about one half meter fromthe screen, for example, the energy should be spread over a distancesmaller than 0.15 mm in all directions.

The texture of second surface 215, in some embodiments, may be random orcomprise a microlens array, random phase pattern, or other diffractionelements such as periodic structures, periodic gratings, quasiperiodicgratings, aperiodic gratings, or the like disposed on the second surface215. Periodic structures provide better control over the manner in whichlight and energy from the plurality of pixels is spread by transparentsubstrate 210. In the particular case where the pixels are arranged asdescribed on FIG. 1, second surface 215 should have a texture thatspreads light along the X direction. In this configuration, the greatestdegree of sparkle reduction may be achieved without compromising toomuch image resolution by using a diffraction element comprising aperiodic structure such as, for example, a grating having its principleaxis aligned along the X-axis of the pixels.

When transparent substrate 205 is placed in front of a pixelated display250, diffraction element 220 is located along optical path 230 and islocated between antiglare surface 210 and pixelated display 250 suchthat, when viewed through diffraction element 220 (and antiglare surface210), the gap between pixels in an image generated by pixelated display250 is reduced. In one embodiment, the gap is reduced to less than aboutone third the length (or width) of the individual pixels. In someembodiments, the gap is not visible to the unaided human eye.

For the purpose of illustrating the function of diffraction element 220and the underlying concept, a diffraction element 220 in which most ofthe energy passing through diffraction element 220 is diffracted intothe orders −1, 0 and +1 is considered. It is assumed that thediffraction efficiency is mostly equal for the 3 orders of diffractionand that diffraction happens along the X axis (FIG. 1).

When diffraction element 220 is inserted into optical path 230, eachsub-pixel (FIG. 1) in pixelated display 250 is duplicated into 3 imagescorresponding to the 3 orders of diffraction. Those duplicate images areshifted along the X-axis (FIG. 1) by an amplitude or displacement equalin first approximation to:dx=D·tan(θ)  (1),where θ=λ/T, dx is the lateral displacement, D is the optical distancefrom the pixel 255 (FIG. 2) to the diffraction element 220, θ is thediffraction angle, λ is the wavelength, and T is the diffraction gratingperiod. The optical distance 255 is equal to the physical distancemultiplied by the optical refractive index of the region spanned by thedistance d (FIG. 1). The case in which the diffraction grating period Tis selected such that the lateral shift dx equals a third of the pixelsize is schematically shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b . In FIGS. 3a and 3b ,green sub-pixels G1, G2, and G3 are energized or in the ‘on’ condition,while red sub-pixels R1, R2, and R3 and blue sub-pixels B1, B2, and B3are not energized or in the ‘off’ condition. In the absence ofdiffraction element 220 (FIG. 3a ), gaps 310, which create sparkle inthe viewed image, are perceived between sub-pixels G1, G2, and G3. Whendiffraction element 220 is placed in optical path 230 (FIG. 3b ), thegap between sub-pixels is filled by the −1 and +1 orders of diffractionfor sub-pixels G1, G2, and G3, and the inter-pixel gap 310—orseparation—disappears. While inter-pixel gaps 310 in FIG. 3a are presentin the X direction, such inter-pixel gaps may, in some embodiments,exist in the Y direction, and may be filled in a manner similar to thatdescribed hereinabove.

The diffraction element impacts resolution of the image viewed throughthe transparent substrate, and sparkle reduction should be balancedagainst pixel blurring. Accordingly, the diffraction grating period Tmay be selected to provide a lateral displacement dx that is eitherslightly greater than or slightly less than (i.e., within ±10% of) ⅓ ofthe pixel size in order to balance sparkle reduction and blurring.

Experiments indicate that optimal sparkle reduction is achieved when thegap between the pixels is perfectly matched by the diffraction period.To achieve this, the displacement dx must be equal to one third of thesingle color pixel pitch, or size (Pitch). The diffraction gratingperiod T is then given by the equation:T=3D·λ/Pitch  (2).Depending on the application, however, such a grating period may lead tosignificant image quality degradation. The amount of degradation may bereduced by setting 3D·λ/Pitch (equation (2)) as a lower limit for thegrating period T and setting twice the value of equation (2)(6D·λ/Pitch) as the upper limit:3D·λ/Pitch<T<6D·λ/Pitch  (3).Equations (2) and (3) can be extrapolated to periodic structures havingmore than 3 orders of diffraction. In that case, equation (3) becomes:k·D·λ/Pitch<T<2k·D·λ/Pitch  (4),where k represents the main diffraction orders diffracted by thestructure.

In some embodiments, diffraction element 220 comprises a periodicgrating or texture disposed on second surface 215 of substrate 200. Asillustrated hereinabove, the periodic grating may have a grating periodthat is obtained by solving equation (1) when dx is equal to one thirdof the size of a pixel present in pixelated display 250. In otherembodiments, diffraction element 220 may comprise a quasiperiodicgrating, an aperiodic grating, or a random phase pattern.

To achieve optimal sparkle reduction, the image seen through thediffraction element should be as homogeneous as possible. In a threeorder diffraction grating, this may be achieved by having all threediffraction orders be equal in amplitude. FIG. 4 shows, for example, thediffraction efficiency for a sinusoidal grating with a phase modulationpeak-to-valley (PTV) amplitude of 0.45 PTV (in units of 2π). Such agrating would be used in a display system with a pixel size of 100microns and d=2.256 mm. Pixel power/energy is equally distributedbetween the three diffraction orders, which contain about 90% of thediffracted power/energy. Similar diffraction efficiencies may beachieved with square-shaped gratings having a modulation amplitude of0.32 PTV.

When the periodic structure has more than three orders of diffraction,the extreme orders of diffraction must have higher amplitudes than thecentral orders in order to achieve the same homogeneous image spread.

Typical grating periods corresponding to different types of displays arelisted in the Table 1 for gratings having three orders of diffraction.The grating period has been calculated for a wavelength λ of 0.53 μm.

TABLE 1 Grating periods for different types of displays. Opticaldistance D Pixel pitch Grating period Display type (mm) (mm) (microns)Laptop 1 0.191 8.35 to 16.2 Hand held device 2.4 0.194 19.8 to 39.6Retina display 1.2 0.078 24.5 to 49  Optical distance D in Table 1 was measured using a microscope objective.The microscope is first focused at a first position P1 to bring thepixels in the pixelated display into focus. The focus is then adjustedto a second position P2, which corresponds to the last surface of theLCD display stack. The optical distance is defined as the differencebetween the first and second positions (P2−P1) and takes the indices ofrefraction of the material inside the LCD stack into account.

In those instances in which the diffraction grating has a sinusoidalshape and the grating index contrast is 0.5, the optimal amplitude ofthe diffraction orders is around 0.48 μm in all three cases listed inTable 1. In the case of a square-shaped grating, the ideal amplitude is0.34 μm and the grating duty factor is close to or about 50%.

Although the examples described in Table 1 above were calculatedassuming that diffraction element 220 was obtained by surface texturing,diffraction element 220 may also comprise components having bulkscattering properties. For example, diffraction element 220 may comprisea portion of transparent substrate 200 in which the index of refractionof the transparent substrate 205 has been modified (for example, by ionexchange of a glass substrate through a mask) so as to create localvariations in the index of refraction. When light propagates through thesubstrate, those local variations may induce some phase modulation intothe optical waves, thus creating diffraction effects similar to surfacetexturing.

In high resolution displays, for example, the pixel size is about 75 μm.Optimizing the parameters of display system 200 for green (around 532nm) and assuming an optical distance d from the pixel 252 to diffractionelement 220 (FIG. 2) of 3 mm, the diffraction angle is 8.3 mRd (0.48degrees) corresponding to a grating period of 63.8 μm. Assuming an airgap 255 with refractive index n=1 between pixelated display 250 and thatthe diffraction element comprises a periodic sinusoidal grating, theoptimum amplitude of the roughness is 0.48 μm, which corresponds to arelatively shallow surface profile (i.e., the grating amplitude is aboutone hundredth of the grating period).

In other embodiments, diffraction element 220 comprises a random phasepattern. The random phase pattern may have a cutoff frequency such thatthe diffusion angular energy distribution is a rectangular distributionwith a diffraction cone equal to the pixel size divided by distance dfrom the pixel 252 to diffraction element 220 (FIG. 2).

The efficiency and diffraction angle of diffraction element 220 will bedifferent for the each of the three pixel colors. Since the photopicresponse of the human eye is much higher in green than in the othercolors (i.e., red, blue), about 70% of the brightness in a white imageis created by green sub-pixels. As such, it is generally desirable tooptimize the parameters of diffraction element 220 and display system200 for green and accept slightly lower resolution and higher sparkle inred and blue.

Assuming that the display system 200 has been optimized around green(532 nm), the diffracted energy distribution for red (632 nm) light isplotted in FIG. 5. The efficiency for diffraction element 220 in red is45% in the 0 order, as compared to 25% in the −1 and +1 orders. Althoughthe sparkle will be reduced, the reduction will not be as efficient asin green.

Diffraction element 220 may be applied to second surface 215 ofsubstrate 200 as a polymeric film. Alternatively, diffraction element220 may be formed on—and integral to—second surface 215.

In some embodiments, gap 255 is filled with epoxy (not shown) so as tocontact second surface 215 and adhere or bond transparent substrate 205to pixelated display 250. The epoxy has a refractive index thatpartially matches that of transparent substrate 205 in order toeliminate Fresnel reflections on second surface 215 and front face 252of pixelated display. The epoxy has a refractive index that differs fromthat of diffractive element 220 and an index contrast that issufficiently low to attenuate the Fresnel reflection. At the same time,the index contrast of the epoxy is large enough to keep the roughnessamplitude of the diffraction element at reasonable levels. With an indexcontrast of 0.05, for example, the amplitude of the Fresnel reflectionis around 0.04% and the ideal grating amplitudes are 4.8 μm and 3.4 μmfor sinusoidal and square gratings, respectively. Given relatively largeperiods on the order of 20 μm to 40 μm, such amplitudes are achievablefor grating manufacturing processes such as microlithography, embossing,replication, or the like.

In some embodiments, antiglare surface 210 has a RMS amplitude of atleast about 80 nm. In some embodiments, antiglare surface is integral tothe body of glass substrate 200; i.e., antiglare surface 210 is part ofglass substrate 200, being formed by chemical or other etchingprocesses.

Depending on the process that is used to form antiglare surface 210, theantiglare surface 210 may, in some embodiments, not be completelycovered by roughened features; i.e., antiglare surface 210 may not behomogenous. When the surface of the transparent substrate is etchedthrough a mask deposited on the surface, for example, holes are createdat locations on the surface where openings in the mask exist.Consequently, a portion of the substrate surface is not etched and theroughness is not homogeneously distributed throughout or on the surface.This unetched portion of antiglare surface 210 is not roughened and istherefore relatively smooth and flat. The unetched portion may, in someembodiments, comprise up to about 20% of antiglare surface 210 and, inother embodiments, the unetched portion may comprise up to about 10% ofantiglare surface 210, with the roughened portion comprising theremaining portion of antiglare surface 210. Such antiglare surfaces aredescribed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/490,678,entitled “Transparent Glass Substrate having Antiglare Surface,” filedMay 27, 2011, by Jacques Gollier et al., the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

In some embodiments, antiglare surface 210 has a first RMS roughnessRlong of up to about 300 nm measured in a range of lateral spatialperiods (sometimes referred to as surface wavelength) from about 40 μmto about 640 μm, a second RMS surface roughness Rshort measured atlateral spatial periods of less than about 20 μm, and a third RMSroughness Rtotal, measured without surface wavelength filtering, in arange from about 60 nm up to about 600 nm, wherein the ratio(Rlong/Rshort) is less than about 3.9. Such antiglare surfaces aredescribed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/447,242 entitled“Glass having Antiglare Surface with Low Display Sparkle,” filed Feb.28, 2011, by Jacques Gollier et al., the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

As used herein, the terms “pixel power deviation” and “PPD” refer to thequantitative measurement for display sparkle. PPD is calculated by imageanalysis of display pixels according to the following procedure. A gridbox is drawn around each display pixel. The total power within each gridbox is calculated from camera data and assigned as the total power foreach pixel. The total power for each display pixel thus becomes an arrayof numbers, for which the mean and standard deviation may be calculated,and the PPD value is defined as the standard deviation of total powerper pixel divided by the mean power per pixel (times 100). The totalpower collected from each display pixel by the camera is measured andthe standard deviation of total pixel power (PPD) is calculated acrossthe measurement area, which typically comprises about 30×30 LCD pixels.

The details of a measurement system and image processing calculationthat are used to obtain PPD values are described in U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/447,285, filed on Feb. 28, 2011, by JacquesGollier et al., and entitled “Apparatus and Method for DeterminingSparkle,” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

When disposed in front of a pixelated display such as pixelated display250 at a predetermined distance d₁ from the imaging plane of pixelateddisplay 250 (FIG. 2), transparent substrate 205 has a pixel powerdeviation of less than about 7.5%.

In some embodiments, pixelated display 250 exhibits a second PPDseparate and independent from transparent substrate 205. Whentransparent substrate 205 is combined with the pixelated display 250,the PPD of the transparent substrate is less than about 4% greater thanthe second PPD. In other embodiments, the PPD of the transparentsubstrate is less than about two times greater than the second PPD.

FIG. 6 is a plot of PPD as a function of the period of a roughenedantiglare surface. PPD is calculated assuming that the antiglare surfaceis a sinusoidal function versus the period of the antiglare surface.Line A in FIG. 6 was calculated based on the condition that adiffraction element such as those described herein is not present on thesecond surface of the transparent substrate, and line B in FIG. 6 wascalculated based on the condition that a diffraction element such asthose described herein is present on the second surface of thetransparent substrate. FIG. 6 shows that the presence of the diffractionelement on the second surface of the transparent substrate cansignificantly decrease the overall amount of PPD, even at thoseroughness periods/frequencies (about 130 μm in FIG. 6) where thediffraction coating generates sparkle.

As used herein, the term “distinctness of image (DOI)” is defined bymethod A of ASTM procedure D5767 (ASTM 5767), entitled “Standard TestMethods for Instrumental Measurements of Distinctness-of-Image Gloss ofCoating Surfaces,” the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety. In accordance with method A of ASTM 5767,glass reflectance factor measurements are made on the at least oneroughened surface of the glass sheet at the specular viewing angle andat an angle slightly off the specular viewing angle. The values obtainedfrom these measurements are combined to provide a DOI value. In someembodiments, the transparent substrate 205 described herein has a 20°distinctness of image of less than about 85 and, in other embodiments,less than about 80.

As used herein, the term “transmission haze” refers to the percentage oftransmitted light scattered outside an angular cone of about ±2.5° inaccordance with ASTM procedure D1003, entitled “Standard Test Method forHaze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics,” the contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In someembodiments, transparent substrate 205 described herein has atransmission haze of less than about 20%.

The transparent substrate described herein may comprise an ionexchangeable glass which, in some embodiments, is strengthened by eitherchemical or thermal means that are known in the art. In one embodiment,the transparent substrate is chemically strengthened by ion exchange. Inthis process, metal ions at or near a surface of the glass are exchangedfor larger metal ions having the same valence as the metal ions in theglass. The exchange is generally carried out by contacting the glasswith an ion exchange medium such as, for example, a molten salt baththat contains the larger metal ion. The metal ions are typicallymonovalent metal ions such as, for example, alkali metal ions. In onenon-limiting example, chemical strengthening of a glass substratecontaining sodium ions by ion exchange is accomplished by immersing theglass substrate in an ion exchange bath comprising a molten potassiumsalt such as potassium nitrate (KNO₃) or the like.

The replacement of small metal ions by larger metal ions in the ionexchange process creates in a region in the glass that extends from thesurface to a depth (referred to as the “depth of layer”) that is undercompressive stress. This compressive stress at the surface of thetransparent substrate is balanced by a tensile stress (also referred toas “central tension”) within the interior of the glass substrate. Insome embodiments, the surface of the transparent substrate describedherein, when strengthened by ion exchange, has a compressive stress ofat least 350 MPa, and the region under compressive stress extends to adepth of layer of at least 15 μm below the surface.

In some embodiments, the transparent substrate described hereincomprises a soda lime glass, an alkali aluminosilicate glass, or analkali aluminoborosilicate glass. In one embodiment, the transparentsubstrate comprises an alkali aluminosilicate glass that comprisesalumina, at least one alkali metal and, in some embodiments, greaterthan 50 mol %, SiO₂, in other embodiments, at least 58 mol %, and instill other embodiments, at least 60 mol % SiO₂, wherein the ratio

${\frac{{{Al}_{2}{O_{3}\left( {{mol}\mspace{14mu}\%} \right)}} + {B_{2}{O_{3}\left( {{mol}\mspace{14mu}\%} \right)}}}{\sum\mspace{14mu}{{alkali}\mspace{14mu}{metal}\mspace{14mu}{modifiers}\mspace{14mu}\left( {{mol}\mspace{14mu}\%} \right)}} > 1},$where the modifiers are alkali metal oxides. This glass, in particularembodiments, comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of: about58 mol % to about 72 mol % SiO₂; about 9 mol % to about 17 mol % Al₂O₃;about 2 mol % to about 12 mol % B₂O₃; about 8 mol % to about 16 mol %Na₂O; and 0 mol % to about 4 mol % K₂O, wherein the ratio

${\frac{{{Al}_{2}{O_{3}\left( {{mol}\mspace{14mu}\%} \right)}} + {B_{2}{O_{3}\left( {{mol}\mspace{14mu}\%} \right)}}}{\sum\mspace{11mu}{{alkali}\mspace{14mu}{metal}\mspace{14mu}{modifiers}\mspace{14mu}\left( {{mol}\mspace{14mu}\%} \right)}} > 1},$where the modifiers are alkali metal oxides.

In another embodiment, the transparent substrate comprises an alkalialuminosilicate glass which comprises, consists essentially of, orconsists of: about 61 mol % to about 75 mol % SiO₂; about 7 mol % toabout 15 mol % Al₂O₃; 0 mol % to about 12 mol % B₂O₃; about 9 mol % toabout 21 mol % Na₂O; 0 mol % to about 4 mol % K₂O; 0 mol % to about 7mol % MgO; and 0 mol % to about 3 mol % CaO.

In yet another embodiment, the transparent substrate described hereincomprises an alkali aluminosilicate glass comprising, consistingessentially of, or consisting of: about 60 mol % to about 70 mol % SiO₂;about 6 mol % to about 14 mol % Al₂O₃; 0 mol % to about 15 mol % B₂O₃; 0mol % to about 15 mol % Li₂O; 0 mol % to about 20 mol % Na₂O; 0 mol % toabout 10 mol % K₂O; 0 mol % to about 8 mol % MgO; 0 mol % to about 10mol % CaO; 0 mol % to about 5 mol % ZrO₂; 0 mol % to about 1 mol % SnO₂;0 mol % to about 1 mol % CeO₂; less than about 50 ppm As₂O₃; and lessthan about 50 ppm Sb₂O₃; wherein 12 mol % Li₂O+Na₂O+K₂O≦20 mol % and 0mol %≦MgO+CaO≦10 mol %.

In still another embodiment, the transparent substrate described hereincomprises an alkali aluminosilicate glass which comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of: about 64 mol % to about 68 mol % SiO₂;about 12 mol % to about 16 mol % Na₂O; about 8 mol % to about 12 mol %Al₂O₃; 0 mol % to about 3 mol % B₂O₃; about 2 mol % to about 5 mol %K₂O; about 4 mol % to about 6 mol % MgO; and 0 mol % to about 5 mol %CaO, wherein: 66 mol %≦SiO₂+B₂O₃+CaO≦69 mol %;Na₂O+K₂O+B₂O₃+MgO+CaO+SrO>10 mol %; 5 mol %≦MgO+CaO+SrO≦8 mol %;(Na₂O+B₂O₃)−Al₂O₃≦2 mol %; 2 mol %≦Na₂O−Al₂O₃≦6 mol %; and 4 mol%≦(Na₂O+K₂O)−Al₂O₃≦10 mol %.

In other embodiments, the transparent substrate described hereincomprises a glass comprising SiO₂, Al₂O₃, P₂O₅, and at least one alkalimetal oxide (R₂O), wherein 0.75≦[(P₂O₅ (mol %)+R₂O (mol %))/M₂O₃ (mol%)]≦1.2, where M₂O₃=Al₂O₃+B₂O₃. In some embodiments, [(P₂O₅ (mol %)+R₂O(mol %))/M₂O₃ (mol %)]=1 and, in some embodiments, the glass does notinclude B₂O₃ and M₂O₃=Al₂O₃. The glass comprises, in some embodiments:about 40 to about 70 mol % SiO₂; 0 to about 28 mol % B₂O₃; about 0 toabout 28 mol % Al₂O₃; about 1 to about 14 mol % P₂O₅; and about 12 toabout 16 mol % R₂O. In some embodiments, the glass comprises: about 40to about 64 mol % SiO₂; 0 to about 8 mol % B₂O₃; about 16 to about 28mol % Al₂O₃; about 2 to about 12 mol % P₂O₅; and about 12 to about 16mol % R₂O. The glass may further comprise at least one alkaline earthmetal oxide such as, but not limited to, MgO or CaO.

In some embodiments, the glass comprising the transparent substratedescribed herein is free of lithium; i.e. the glass comprises less than1 mol % Li₂O and, in other embodiments, less that 0.1 mol % Li₂O and, inother embodiments, o0 mol % LI₂O. In some embodiments, such glasses arefree of at least one of arsenic, antimony, and barium; i.e. the glasscomprises less than 1 mol % and, in other embodiments, less than 0.1 mol% of As₂O₃, Sb₂O₃, and/or BaO.

While typical embodiments have been set forth for the purpose ofillustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed to be alimitation on the scope of the disclosure or appended claims.Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations, and alternatives mayoccur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit andscope of the present disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A display system, the display system comprising: a pixelated display comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels having a pixel size and comprising a plurality of subpixels, wherein the pixelated display generates an inter-pixel gap between a first subpixel and a second subpixel when the first subpixel and the second subpixel are on and one or more subpixels located between the first subpixel and the second subpixel are off; a transparent substrate disposed in front of and substantially parallel to the pixelated display, the transparent substrate having an antiglare surface distal from the pixelated display; and a diffraction element having a grating period disposed between the antiglare surface and the pixelated display, wherein the transparent substrate is separated from the pixelated display by a predetermined distance and the grating period is determined at least based on the predetermined distance and the size of the inter-pixel gap.
 2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the diffraction element is disposed on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface being opposite the antiglare surface.
 3. The display system of claim 2, wherein the diffraction element has a first refractive index and the second surface is in contact with an epoxy layer having a second refractive index that is different from the first refractive index.
 4. The display system of claim 2, wherein the diffraction element is integral to the second surface.
 5. The display system of claim 2, wherein the diffraction element comprises one of a periodic grating, a quasiperiodic grating, an aperiodic grating, and a random phase pattern disposed on the second surface.
 6. The display system of claim 5, wherein the periodic grating has a grating period of T micrometers and diffraction order k, wherein the periodic grating is separated from a pixel by an optical distance of D millimeters, the pixel emitting light having a wavelength of λ micrometers, wherein k·D·λ/Pitch<T<2k·D·λ/Pitch, wherein k is a positive integer and the Pitch is a size of a single pixel defined by millimeter.
 7. The display system of claim 5, wherein the diffraction element is disposed on a polymeric film which is disposed on the second surface.
 8. The display system of claim 5, wherein the periodic grating has a grating period that is about one third of the pixel size.
 9. The display system of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate has a second surface opposite the antiglare surface and a bulk portion between the antiglare surface and the second surface, and wherein the diffraction element is disposed in the bulk portion.
 10. The display system of claim 1, wherein the antiglare surface is a roughened surface, having a total RMS roughness Rtotal, measured without surface wavelength filtering, in a range from about 60 nm to about 600 nm.
 11. The display system of claim 10, wherein the roughened surface has a first RMS surface roughness Rlong, measured in a range of lateral spatial periods from about 40 μm to about 640 μm, of up to about 300 nm; and a second RMS surface roughness Rshort, measured at lateral spatial periods of less than about 20 μm, wherein the ratio (Rlong/Rshort) is less than about 3.9.
 12. The display system of claim 10, wherein the transparent substrate has a transmission haze of less than about 20%.
 13. The display system of claim 10, wherein the transparent substrate has a 20° distinctness of image of less than about
 85. 14. The display system of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate comprises a sheet of polymeric material.
 15. The display system of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate comprises a glass sheet.
 16. The display system of claim 15, wherein the glass sheet is strengthened.
 17. The display system of claim 16, wherein the glass sheet is strengthened by ion exchange, and wherein the transparent substrate has at least one surface having a region under a compressive stress, the region extending from the surface to a depth of layer within the transparent substrate.
 18. The display system of claim 17, wherein the compressive stress is at least about 350 MPa and the depth of layer is at least 15 μm.
 19. The display system of claim 15, wherein the glass sheet comprises one of a soda lime glass, an alkali aluminosilicate glass, and an alkali aluminoborosilicate glass.
 20. The display system of claim 15, wherein the glass comprises at least 2 mol % of Al₂O₃ or ZrO₂.
 21. The display system of claim 1, wherein the antiglare surface comprises a roughened surface portion having an RMS amplitude of at least about 80 nm, and an unroughened surface portion, wherein the unroughened surface portion forms a fraction of the antiglare surface of up to about 0.1, and wherein the roughened surface portion forms a remaining fraction of the antiglare surface.
 22. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pixels viewed through the transparent substrate has a gap between adjacent pixels of less than two thirds of the pixel size.
 23. The display system if claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate has a pixel power deviation of less than about 7.5%.
 24. The display system of claim 23, wherein the transparent substrate has a 20° distinctness of image of less than about
 80. 25. The display system of claim 23, wherein the pixelated display alone has a second pixel power deviation, and wherein pixel power deviation of the transparent substrate combined with the pixelated display is less than about 4% greater than the second pixel power deviation.
 26. The display system of claim 23, wherein the pixelated display alone has a second pixel power deviation, and wherein pixel power deviation of the transparent substrate combined with the pixelated display is less than about two times greater than the second pixel power deviation.
 27. The display system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of subpixels comprise R, G, and B subpixels.
 28. The display system of claim 27, wherein the pixelated display generates inter-pixel gaps when one of the R, G, and B subpixels is on and the other two of the R, G, and B subpixels are off.
 29. The display system of claim 27, wherein the pixelated display generates inter-pixel gaps when two of the R, G, and B subpixels are on and the other one of the R, G, and B subpixels is off.
 30. The display system of claim 1, wherein the size of the inter-pixel gap is determined based on a size of a subpixel and a number of the one or more subpixels located between the first subpixel and the second subpixel.
 31. The display system of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate has a transmission haze of less than about 20%.
 32. The display system of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate has a 20° distinctness of image of less than about
 85. 